I did some reading in literature put out by the lifter manufacturers. They mostly agreed that soaking wasn't mandatory, but doesn't hurt either. They did all state not to pump them up though. The method I used was to follow the firing order with each cylinder at the bottom of its firing stroke when both valves are closed. This way you only rotate the crank once. I ended up going 1/2 turn past zero. It had been a while since starting this engine overhaul, so I drizzled some cam lube in each lifter port and smeared a little moly lube on the bottom of each lifter before putting them in.
